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Everyone's read the Tommy Taylor books, the popular series of novels turned pop culture phenomenon about a boy wizard's adventures. And everyone knows about Tom Taylor, the boy the novels were based on, whose life was so overshadowed by his Dad's fictional epic that Tom's become a lame Z-level celebrity at best and a human viral marketing tool at worst.

But what if the resemblance goes even deeper? What if Tom is the boy-wizard of the books made flesh? And if that sounds crazy, why is it bringing him into the crosshairs of an ancient faction that has never been named in any book or text?

To discover the truth about himself, Tom must search through all the places in history where fiction and reality have intersected. And in the process, he'll learn more about that unwritten cabal and the plot they're at the center of –– a plot that spans all of literature from the first clay tablets to the gothic castles where Frankenstein was conceived to the self-adjusting stories of the internet.

A conspiracy mystery a la The Da Vinci Code, THE UNWRITTEN is the eagerly anticipated reunion of Mike Carey (X-Men, HELLBLAZER) and Peter Gross (FABLES, Chosen) – the team behind the multiple Eisner-nominated LUCIFER. Acclaimed artist Yuko Shimizu (SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS) joins the duo on covers, and the series kicks off with a 4-issue opening storyarc with the extra-sized 40-page debut promo-priced at only $1.00!

Vertigo | 40pg. | Color | $1.00 US | Mature Readers

This sounds pretty freaking cool and being the broke bastard that I am I definitely like the price.

Wow the human flame was actually just made into an interesting character. I cannot believe this. The calibur of writing on this book was high as each page really kept you guessing to see just how bad things would get. From meeting up with an old partner to mixing it up with his family, miller proves to be a scumbag, a smart man but definitely a scumbag.

The shootout at the fast food resturuant was the highlight of the issue though as it really kept me guessing just how bad things would get. God that mascot never saw it coming. Oh and the curveball with the family made me laugh pretty hard. Surprised the word asshole wasn't blocked out as it is in every other book. This is in line with secret six but the lead character plays more like a scumbag then even they'd be shocked at.

For someone as potentially uninteresting as The Human Flame, I was surprised to be intrigued by him in Final Crisis: Run #1.

The issue starts off with a nurse being punched, has a burned mascot in the middle and a bicycle being stolen. All caused by the Human Flame. Matt Sturges is on writing duties here and walks a delicate line between over the top funny and annoying. But Sturges does it well and makes the Flame not only a giant asshole, but makes him a likable asshole.

Freddie Williams does an amazing job on art, providing great flame details and all the body hair a person could possibly want in a comic book.

A fun, yet quick, read. Final Crisis: Run #1 sets up what looks to be a fun mini.

Wow the human flame was actually just made into an interesting character. I cannot believe this. The calibur of writing on this book was high as each page really kept you guessing to see just how bad things would get. From meeting up with an old partner to mixing it up with his family, miller proves to be a scumbag, a smart man but definitely a scumbag.

The shootout at the fast food resturuant was the highlight of the issue though as it really kept me guessing just how bad things would get. God that mascot never saw it coming. Oh and the curveball with the family made me laugh pretty hard. Surprised the word asshole wasn't blocked out as it is in every other book. This is in line with secret six but the lead character plays more like a scumbag then even they'd be shocked at.

8

Really, Smart? I'd go for conniving, quick on his feet even. He is somewhat clever, but I think this was all set up for it to end badly for him and if he were smart, well it would end with him in Mexico drinking pina coladas on the beach, somehow I don't see this turning out this way.

I also just thought, just now, that it is possible that this is the first of the current revival of Crime Books making a real impact on Superhero books. This feels like a crime book with a few Capes thrown in. Miller even refers to his costume as a crime suit.

ThrillHouse wrote:For someone as potentially uninteresting as The Human Flame, I was surprised to be intrigued by him in Final Crisis: Run #1.

The issue starts off with a nurse being punched, has a burned mascot in the middle and a bicycle being stolen. All caused by the Human Flame. Matt Sturges is on writing duties here and walks a delicate line between over the top funny and annoying. But Sturges does it well and makes the Flame not only a giant asshole, but makes him a likable asshole.

Freddie Williams does an amazing job on art, providing great flame details and all the body hair a person could possibly want in a comic book.

A fun, yet quick, read. Final Crisis: Run #1 sets up what looks to be a fun mini.

Story - Huh, this was actually pretty good. I'm known as one of the biggest Final Crisis haters on the site, that was just a truly awful comic, indicative of pretty much all that's wrong with modern DC Comics, and Grant Morrison's recent work, just dire. And for that reason I swore off getting any of these 'Aftermath' mini-series, no matter how good the creative teams were (And Sturges and Joe Casey are good writers, so that took some thought), and I was looking forward to a Final Crisis-free year, but no! DaringD had to go and choose one, and since I'm not a wuss like DeLarge who skips a week because he doesn't like it wah wah wah, I had to buy it, forced, with a gun to my head. You Bastards, you actually did it, you bastards.

But as I said, it was actually decent! Score one for you DaringD! The book stars Mike Miller, aka The Human Flame. Don't know who that is? He was that fat guy from Final Crisis who killed Martian Manhunter (Yeah, I know) and then got butt-raped into evil by Libra, he's got a moustache and fire powers. After a brief recap of that stuff, the book does what it says on the tin, as Mike run(!)s. He punches a nurse in the face, we see far more body hair than anyone could want, he tussles with the Kryzyzgznszztstsi Mob (That fake country was ridiculous! Is it from the 5th Dimension? Heh, Mxyzptlk humour), sets fire to a mascot, steals his daughter's bike and then blows up. Yeah, it's pretty awesome.

The thing I liked about this book was that it got down to business, it was like one continuing action scene, it didn't let up for a moment, even when you expected it to, you think, oh God, touching family scene, show he's not that bad a guy... no wait, he's a dick, yeah! Run! Too often these days DC books are too ponderous and deferential, not so here, since the book is about a villain, Sturges can play fast and loose with the character, and really have fun with it, the running interior monologue helped with this, getting Human Flame's perspective really colours events in an interesting way, this was very down and dirty for a DC book, and if you discount the flame suit and Green Lantern and Firestorm showing up, it could have been a straight action crime-story, what it reminded me off was high-octane movies like Crank (although probably more realistic, even with Green Lantern!), just a heap of mindless fun.

So there you have it, FCA: Run! is a pleasant surprise, turn off your brain, there's no pretentious channel-hopping multiverse bullshit here, just a bad dude doing bad things to bad people. It could be the kick in the nuts DC needs, and I am interested in seeing where it goes, the cover to #2 has a Nazi on it, so I expect shit to get weird, but I hope it doesn't lose it's pace.

Art - Freddie Williams II is a pretty unique artist, his faces look kind of weird, with really small eyes, but that doesn't matter, what matters is that the art is fast paced enough to go with the story, and I think it is. My only real complaint is the colouring where Firestorm is white for some reason. The white Firestorm is one dead Honky.

Best Line - 'It ain't just nipples, buddy!'

7/10

Last edited by Punchy on Sun May 10, 2009 7:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

thefourthman wrote:Really, Smart? I'd go for conniving, quick on his feet even. He is somewhat clever, but I think this was all set up for it to end badly for him and if he were smart, well it would end with him in Mexico drinking pina coladas on the beach, somehow I don't see this turning out this way.

I also just thought, just now, that it is possible that this is the first of the current revival of Crime Books making a real impact on Superhero books. This feels like a crime book with a few Capes thrown in. Miller even refers to his costume as a crime suit.

Have to pretty much agree with everyone so far. Hated Final Crisis with a passion, but this one issue actually made up for some of that. This is a character that has little if any real compassion for anyone (proven when he goes to visit his daughter and wife - best moment of the story for me). I love how this man who was such an intregal part of the murder of Martian Manhunter can actually come across as both cruel, cold, and calculating, and you still end up kind of rooting for the guy. That's a sign of a very good writer.

Story: 8Art: 8My Score: Let's say... 8

Max Blyss wrote:Months and months and months and the whole thing is still just an intersection at Dipshit Lane & Chip on my Shoulder Ave.